Connecter for electric circuits



NOV- 24, 1935. c. H. cULvER Er AL CONNECTER FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS Filed Sept. 4, 1934 INVENTORS ('arZ #.Ca Ver* Chaudes @66 www #WMM ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1936 PATENT oFF-ICE CONNECTER FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS Carl H. Culver and Charles G. Lee, Detroit, Mich.,

assignors to Culver Manufacturing Company,` Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 4,l 1934, Serial No. 742,676

5 Claims. V(Cl. 173-328) The inyentii'in'rdates to yconnecters for electric and has for its primary object the obtainingo a construction that may be quickly attached and securely held against accidental displacement. It is a further object to obtain a construction formed of stampings adapted for quick assembly and to maintain good electrical contact in engaged position. With these objects .in view the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cooperating members of the connecter in position ready for engagement; l 4

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section through the connecter in coupled position;

' Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views of the several elements of the assembly.

` For certain electrical installations, such for linstance as the equipment on motor vehicles, it l is highly desirable to provider electrical connecters which can be quickly engaged and securely fastened. This is particularly desirable where motor cars are assembled on a traveling carrier and where it is necessary for each workman to complete task in a relatively short interval of time. Thus with the type of connecters which are fastened by screws, it has been found dicult for a-sngle workman to make all of the different electrical connections during the time available. On the other hand, connecters which are not fastened with screws but are held in place by friction, frequently become accidentally detached or loosened so as to interrupt the electrical circuits.

With this improved construction connection may be :quickly made by sliding one member into trical conductor having a telescopic engagement with said post and a latch locking member for holding said contact members from displacement when once fully engaged.

For cheapness in manufacture all of these parts are preferably formed of metal stampings and the construction is also such that a single rivet is suliicient to secure two of the members to each other and to the insulator support therefor, while the third member is readily attachable to so as to prevent turning on the rivet.

the flexible conductor.4 In detail, A is the post contact member which is in the form of an angle bar having the base portion A' and the projecting contact portion A2. The base portion has an aperture A3 for receiving a rivet and is further provided with a projecting tongue A4 for engagement with a recess 'in the insulator support B is a spring latch lock member which'is also of angle form having a base portion B with a rivet aperture B2 and a bifurcated extension B3 for engagement with the tongue A4. The outwardly projecting portion B4 is formed with a locking shoulder B5 and a flaring projection B6. The members A andvB are assembled by registering the apertures A3 and B2 and a single rivet C then serves to secure these members to each otherand to an insulator support D. As before stated, the tongue A4 projects into a recess or aperture D in the insulator support so as to prevent turning on the rivet into engagement between the bifurcated portion B3 and said tongue also prevents turning of the member B.

E is the contact member which is engaged with the iiexible conductor. This is formed with a flat face E for engagement with the post A and angle flanges E2 on opposite sides thereof for embracing the post to hold the portion E in contact therewith while permitting of telescopic engagement. The portion E has also a struckout portion E3 which forms a, locking shoulder for engagement with the spring latch. Beyond these portions is a shank portion E4 initially bent into U cross sectional form with separate prongs E5 and E6 for respectively closing over the bared wire and the insulated portion of the flexible conductor F. Thus to attach the member E to theflexible conductor F it is only necessary to bare the end portion of the wire and then place it in the U-shaped shank E4, turning down the` prongs E5 and E6 respectively onA the bare Wire and the insulator covering. As soldered electrical connections are usually required, this may be quickly accomplished by dipping the member E into a solder pot and to a suflicient depth to cover the prongs E5.

With the construction as described, the ilexible conductor with the contact member E attached thereto canY be quickly telescopically engaged with the post contact A. As soon as the struck out portion E3 is pressed past the latch shoulder B5, the latter will engage therewith and will not only prevent disengagement but will also serve to press the surface E' in rm contact with the post. This insures good electri- 55 cal connection. The construction is also one which can not be loosened by jar or vibration, or even limited mechanical stresses on the ilexible conductors. 'I'his is for the reason that the post A is comparatively rigid and can not be laterally displaced by any stress to which it is normally subjected. The member E is also held from lateral displacement'by its telescopic engagement with the post A and by reason of the hooked or angle ilanges E2. Thus no stress can be placed by either of these members upon\the resilient and flexible member B and consequently when thev latch shoulder Bs has once engaged with the projection E3, it is impossible to disengage the members E and A by a pull upon -the conductor F. When, however, it is desired to detach the connecter by inserting a screw driver or other like tool between the post A and the member B, the latter may be sprung outward so as to disengage the shoulder B5 from the projection E:l whereupon the connecter may be readily pulled oil from the post A.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. The combination of a pair of angle members, one being substantially rigid. and the other iiexible and resilient, an insulator support, a fastener passing through registering apertures in the base portion of said angle members and said insulator support to secure the same to each other, a tongue projecting from said rigid angle member entering a recess in said insulator support, a bifurcated portion on said resilient member for embracing said tongue, aiiexible insulated conductor, a terminal contact for said conductor having a portion for clinching engagement with the insulating cover therefor and a portion for clinching engagement with the bared wire, said contact being adapted for telescopic engagement with the projecting portion of said rigid angle member and having a struck out portion for forming a locking shoulder, and a hooked shoulder on the projecting portion of said flexible angle member for engaging said struck out portion when said terminal member is telescopically engaged with said post to hold the same from disengagement.

2. The combination of a pair of angle members, one being substantially rigid and the other flexible and resilient, an insulator support, a securing rivet passing through registering apertures in the base portions of said angle members, and said insulator support to hold the same to each other, a tongue projecting from said rigid angle member entering a recess in said insulator support, a bifurcated portion on said flexible angle member for embracing said tongue whereby both of said angle members are held from turning on said rivet, a flexible insulated conductor, aterminal contact`or said flexible conductor having a shank portion provided with a plurality Aof projecting prongs, certain of said prongs adapted for clinching engagement with the insulator cover of said'iiexible conductor, and one or more ofsaid prongs being adapted for clinching engagement with the bared end portion of said lconductor, said terminal contact being provided with angle flangeson its opposite sides for embracing and telescopically engaging the projecting portion of said rigid angle member and being further provided with a struck-out shoulder portion, and a hooked shoulder on the projecting portion of said flexible angle member adapted for latching engagement with said struck-out shoulder to retain said terminal contact and said post Ifrom disengagement.

3. 'I'he combination oi a pair of angle members, one being substantially rigid and the other exible and resilient, an insulator support, a fastener passing through registering apertures in the base portions of said angle members and said insulator support to secure the same to each other with the ilexible member clamped between the rigid member and support, a tongue projecting from said rigid angle member passing through an aperture in said resilient member and entering a` recess in said insulator support, a contact member secured to and forming a terminal for a flexible conductor, said contact member being fashioned to embrace and telescopically engage the projecting portion of said rigid angle member and being also provided with a struck-out shoulder, and a hook on the projecting portion of said flexible angle member adapted for latching engagement with said struckout.shoulder to retain said terminal contact and said post from disengagement.

4. 'Ihe combination of a pair of angle members, one being substantially rigid and the other resiliently iiexble, an insulator support, a rivet passing through registering apertures in the base l the terminal of a iiexible conductor telescopically engaging said rigid angle member and locked in engagement by said resilient member.

5. The combination of a pair of angle members, one being substantially rigid and the other resiliently flexible, an insulator support, a rivet passing through registering apertures in thq base portions of said angle members and insulator support to secure the same to each other, a tongue projecting from the base portion of said rigid angle member and through an aperture in the base of said exible angle member into said recess ln said insulator support to hold said membersA from turning, a contact member forming the terminal of a flexible conductor telescopically engaging said rigid angle member, and cooperating detents on said ilexible angle member and contact member permitting a latch en' engagement.

CARL H. CULVER. CHARLES G. LEE. 

